Discover the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail: A Complete Guide for Nature Lovers

Named for a noisily flowing creek, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail transports you through lush forests of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This 5.5 mile road will immerse you in nature. Here’s your guide to navigating this stunning scenic drive.

Where does the drive begin? 

Find Traffic Light #8 on the Gatlinburg Parkway. Don’t let this busy city road daunt you. You’re just minutes away from being so deep in the woods, you’ll forget the city exists. 

At Light #8, turn onto Historic Nature Trail, which merges into Cherokee Orchard Road. This two-way road flows into one-way Roaring Fork Road.

What should I know before I go?

Keep these tips in mind:

• Roaring Fork Road is open March through November.
• Since this is a loop road, you’ll end the drive where you began.
• There is limited parking at trailheads. Parking along the road is illegal. 
• Consider coming early, to avoid traffic on this popular route.
• Planning to hike? Bring snacks and drinks. This secluded road doesn’t have any shops

What are the highlights for nature lovers? 

Old-growth hardwood and evergreen surround you. Look for wildflowers in spring and colorful foliage in fall. Wildlife includes deer, wild turkeys, coyotes, and black bears. Stops include: 

• Rainbow Falls Trail. An 80-foot-high waterfall is the spectacular payoff for the 5.4-mile round trip hike. The trailhead is just before the entrance to Roaring Fork Road. This hike can be strenuous and takes several hours, so plan accordingly.
• Baskins Creek Falls Trail. Easier and more family-friendly than Rainbow Falls Trail, this three-mile round trip hike leads to a 40-foot waterfall. 
• Scenic Overlooks. Just after the Baskins Creek trailhead, watch for turnings to two overlooks, perfect spots to stop and take photos galore.
• Trillium Gap Trail and Grotto Falls. Gigantic hemlock trees and tiny wildflowers are both abundant here. The hike to Grotto Falls is 2.6 miles round trip. These are the only falls in the Smokies where you can walk behind the cascade.
• Place of a Thousand Drips. Near the road’s end is this meandering waterfall, splitting into countless streams. This is the only waterfall on the trail visible from your car. 

Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail also is home to Tennessee history, with well-preserved homesteads to visit along the route. 

Stay in a Gatlinburg cabin rental and you’re close enough to drive the nature trail again and again, discovering new beauties each time!